US denounces Tripoli police chief assassination

The United States strongly condemns the assassination of the police chief in Libya's capital Tripoli, the state department said Tuesday.

Mohammed Souissi, head of the security directorate of Tripoli, was found dead in his car with his body riddled with bullets

"His murder and the senseless acts of violence against other officials, activists and citizens throughout Libya threaten to undermine the aspirations for which Libyan people have sacrificed so much," Xinhua quoted State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf as saying.

US is deeply concerned by ongoing violence in Libya, said Harf, adding that violence will not solve Libya's problems.

Washington urges dialogue and compromise to build a free, prosperous and democratic Libya, she added.

Libya has witnessed a drastic escalation of violence since the 2011 turmoil which toppled its former leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The recent deadly clashes between rival armed factions in major cities like Tripoli and Benghazi were feared to turn into a full-fledged civil war.